Video Game-Hating, Anonymous Commenter-Hating South Australian Attorney General Steps Down

from the bye-bye dept

Ah, remember Michael Atkinson? He's the Attorney General in South Australia who was vehemently against allowing adults in Australia to play adult-rated video games. Among his rather recent list of hits were his pushing through legislation that banned anonymous comments in online political forums during election time. After lots out outcry about this, he backed down, promising not to enforce it, and also that he'd repeal it after the election (which struck many as being a bit presumptuous). Of course, none of that stopped him from demanding $20,000 from a commenter on a website who called Atkinson a "crook." And, of course, he recently claimed that video gamers were a threat to his family. Great guy.

Re: Re: Huh?

State Attorney General is a ministerial post not an 'I'm a lawyer' post.
So he got elected as a local member of parliament for his state, South Australia.

Since his party won, they got to decide who got what posts and he got SAG.

He reports to the Premier of S.A, who reports to the public, every four years :) Actually back to the upper and lower houses of elected officials.

There is also a Governor of the state, who is the Queens representative and has mostly ceremonial functions but technically asks a member of parliament to 'form a goverment' after each election (Usually the leader of the majority party or coalition). This means he can dissolve a government at any time but can't remove a member of parliament. He could theoretically ask Joe Bloggs independant from nowhere to be the Premier but the house would pass a vote of no-confidence and the state would have to have a general election.

Confidence fail

There is a poll on the last link's site asking, "Are you happy that Michael Atkinson will no longer be South Australia's Attorney-General?" More than 95% say "Yes" as of this posting. I guess not enough people who voted in that poll vote in the only poll that effects how he got his job in the first place.

throw the bums out!

"Among his rather recent list of hits were his pushing through legislation that banned anonymous comments in online political forums during election time. "

Isnt Australia a democracy, he didnt create this law through executive fiat I would assume, so it seems that Australia should have a whole bunch of politicians to get rid of . . . assuming they want to be taken seriously as a free thought country.

Adults should not be allowed to play adult rated video games.
Adults should not be allowed to play adult rated board games.
Adults should not be allowed to play adult rated card games.
Adults should not be allowed to watch adult rated movies.
Adults should not be allowed to watch adult rated TV shows.
Adults should not be allowed to hear adult rated music.
It's for their own good dontcha know.